[Thephoenix572]

I planted mine today along with the shallots, my question is how often should I water them as it's my first year of growing them

[mattwragg94]

i also planted my white onions today - i water them depending on the weather - in the summer once a day.

[Thephoenix572]

So you'd say every other day at present should do til it gets hotter

[sunshineband]

They really don't need a massive amount of water right now. They need to put down roots in search of water for themselves and watering them too often encourages surface roots, which are far less effective in supporting the developing bulbs.

I only water if it is dust dry a half a finger deep in the ground

[mattwragg94]

if the weather stays as it is ill be watering mine around once/twice a week - like i say it depends on the weather - but in our area its been sunny and warm. as SB says when the surface is dry its time to water.

[Yorkie]

Just because the surface is dry, doesn't mean that the plant needs water.  If you read SB's post carefully, it says that she won't water unless it's also dry 1-2" beneath the surface.

If you water too frequently and too shallowly then you do the plants a disservice.  As already mentioned, they therefore do not put roots down deeper, and will become increasingly liable to be stressed by drought.

I hardly ever watered my onions last summer and they grew to be whoppers.